A tragic incident unfolded in Lower Manhattan on Thursday evening, leaving a 17-year-old migrant dead and another teen injured after a violent confrontation.
The attack, which occurred after the victims revealed they did not speak English, is under investigation and may be classified as a hate crime, according to Mayor Eric Adams.
At around 7:30 p.m., the New York City Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting an assault. Officers arrived at the scene to find two young migrants wounded. Seventeen-year-old Yeremi Colino suffered a fatal stab wound to the chest, while his 18-year-old companion sustained an injury to his left arm caused by a screwdriver. Both were taken to NYC Health and Hospitals/Bellevue, where Colino succumbed to his injuries, reports Independent.
According to police, the attack began when a group of men approached the teens and asked if they spoke English. After the victims responded “No,” they were attacked. Authorities recovered a knife from the scene and are currently searching for three suspects.
Suspects and Eyewitness Accounts
The suspects are described as men in their 20s with dark complexions. Witnesses noted specific clothing items: one man wore a green jacket, white pants, and white sneakers, while the others were dressed in red hooded sweatshirts paired with red or black pants.
Mason Garrity, a Pace University student, came across the crime scene shortly after the attack. He described a chaotic scene filled with police activity and bloody evidence scattered across John Street. “It was pretty chaotic. Cops were pushing people out of the way, trying to secure the scene, and there was a lot of blood, a big trail across different parts of John Street,” he told local news outlet ABC 7.
Investigation and Possible Hate Crime Classification
Police have not yet made any arrests and continue to investigate the incident. Mayor Adams stated that if evidence confirms the attack was motivated by the teens’ inability to speak English, it could be categorized as a hate crime.
Both victims had been staying in Manhattan hotels, according to reports. The incident has sparked renewed discussions about the challenges and vulnerabilities faced by migrant communities in the city.
This article is based on reporting from The Independent, with details provided by Michelle Del Rey and local outlet ABC 7.